Health
New report links around 33,800 cancer cases a year to deprivation in UK – Cancer Research UK
Everyone deserves the chance to live a long and healthy life, free from the fear of cancer. But people living in the most deprived areas of the UK have higher cancer rates than those in the least deprived ones.
Our latest report suggests that around 33,800 cancer cases every year across the UK are linked to deprivation — amounting to nearly 1 in 10 cancer cases across the UK.
People living in more deprived areas face challenges around income, employment, housing, education and access to services. And they can also have higher rates of some cancer risk factors, lower participation in cancer screening programmes and greater barriers to accessing healthcare services.
To understand the association between deprivation and cancer, our researchers analysed national cancer and population data from 2019 to 2022. The findings add to the growing evidence that social and economic inequalities continue to affect people’s health across the UK.
“These figures are not only unacceptable but avoidable,“ says Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK. “Everyone deserves to live in an environment that gives them the best chance of a long and healthy life, free from cancer, yet stark health inequalities persist across the UK.”
The deprivation gap across the UK
In addition to looking at overall cancer rates, the report explored which cancers were more common in deprived communities.
Lung cancer accounted for over half of all deprivation-associated cancer cases in the UK — making it the single largest contributor to deprivation-associated cases of cancer. Other cancers that were linked to deprivation included head and neck cancer, liver cancer, oesophageal and cancer of unknown primary origin.
The report found that almost 4 in 10 of all lung cancer cases were associated with deprivation.
But knowing which cancer types have the biggest deprivation gaps only tells us half of the story. The other half comes from understanding what’s driving the gaps.
Why are cancer rates higher in more deprived communities?
The reason for the deprivation gap is a complex mix of factors, including exposure to cancer risk factors.
One of the largest risk factors for cancer is smoking. Smoking rates are consistently higher in more deprived communities and previous research suggests that around 6 in 10 deprivation-linked cancer cases in England are caused by smoking.
Like smoking, overweight and obesity also increase the risk of several types of cancers. Adult obesity prevalence is higher in more deprived areas and the deprivation gap has continued to widen over time. In England, over 4 in 10 children in the most deprived areas leave primary school with overweight and obesity compared to just over 2 in 10 in the least deprived areas.
But the deprivation gap isn’t limited to exposures to risk factors. Often, people living in more deprived communities face barriers to services that can help prevent cancer.
Uptake of screening programmes for bowel and cervical cancer are lower in more deprived areas, as well as vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), a common infection which can cause cervical, anal and some head and neck cancers.
“In the communities where I work, I see first-hand the challenges people face seeking help and navigating the health system,” explains Dr Katie Elliott, clinical lead for Cancer Research UK and a GP.
“Whether it’s financial pressures, caring responsibilities, finding secure housing, or just getting through daily life, taking care of your health can be difficult to prioritise. These pressures can create barriers at every stage of the cancer pathway, making it harder for people to reduce their cancer risk, take up screening invitations, or get help when something doesn’t feel right.”
Together, these factors show why tackling cancer inequalities requires action far beyond the healthcare system alone.
Closing the deprivation gap
The report highlights the urgency of closing the deprivation gap. If within each country of the UK, all areas experienced the same cancer rates as the least deprived, around 95 cancer cases per day could be avoided.
“Governments across the UK must step up prevention efforts and ensure everyone can access high-quality cancer care wherever they live,” says Michelle Mitchell.
With the passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, governments are starting to move in the right direction. To help reduce the cancer deprivation gap, the act needs to be implemented swiftly in all UK nations, alongside continued funding, to ensure everyone can access local, free smoking cessation support.
“To improve cancer outcomes in areas with the greatest need,” Elliott says, “we need continued support for community initiatives, strong partnerships, and innovative models of care.”
“Wherever you live in the UK, if you’re worried about your health, your GP will want to see you. It probably won’t be cancer, but if it is, spotting it early could make all the difference.”
